One of my quarantine watches has been CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, and man, when that show was good, it was very good. The flip side is also true, as anyone who struggled through the final season, and in particular the much-derided finale, can attest to. But let’s keep things positive and focus on the first four seasons, when HIMYM was at its peak and firing off classic episodes weekly. A personal favorite that still holds up: season two’s “Slap Bet,” which introduced viewers (and Ted, Marshall, Lily, and Barney) to Robin’s pop star alter-ego Robin Sparkles and her hit song, “Let’s Go to the Mall.”
Is there a robot? You better believe it.
While stuck indoors, Cobie Smulders, who played Robin, re-recorded “Let’s Go to the Mall” with new quarantine-friendly lyrics. “Keep on those jelly bracelets/And that cool graffiti coat/’Cuz the mall is in our hearts, that’s what it’s all about,” she sings, later adding, “I have to go do Zoom school soon, at least until we’re all immune/But that’s just fine, I’m gonna follow COVID guidelines.” The song’s title: “Let’s All Stay at Home.”
Here it is. I hope it takes your mind off some things. It certainly did for me! A huge thank you to [How I Met Your Mother creators] Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for the new lyrics. And to Brian Kim, who helped compose this song originally. He wrote this new piano version and then rewrote it when it was too challenging for me. It was a wonderful journey down memory lane.
Stay at home, if not for your loved ones, then do it for the robot.
We know there’s plenty of TV these days…. but Netflix has some really good stuff coming this week. By really good, we mean Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini covering up James Marsden’s murder good. That’s right, Dead to Me‘s second season is here, and the ladies have a whole new bloody mess to clean up except this time, the FBI’s on their tail. And Jerry Seinfeld is back for a new comedy special that’s good because, well, it’s Jerry Seinfeld.
Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) Netflix this week of May 8.
Dead to Me: Season 2
Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini return to cover up another murder (and deliver some cliff-hanger-heavy drama) in Dead To Me’s second season. The comedy’s just as dark, and the performances from Applegate and Cardellini are just as mind-blowing but somehow, the show’s able to mine even more interesting storytelling from the offbeat friendship of Jen and Judy as they navigate new truths and familiar messes.
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill
Jerry Seinfeld returns for his first true, straightforward comedy special in awhile with this Netflix stand-up routine. It’s a pleasant enough hour, filled with Seinfeld-esque humor about the hassle of socializing — oh the irony! — and the funny hangups of married life. Fans will enjoy it. Non-fans will probably still want to watch just to have something to pass the time with. Speaking of, here’s a terrific chat we did with Seinfeld about the special … over Zoom, because that’s how we live now, Jerry.
Here’s a full list of what’s been added in the last week:
Avail. 5/4
Arctic Dogs
Avail. 5/5
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill
Avail. 5/6
Workin’ Moms: Season 4
Avail. 5/7
Scissor Seven: Season 2
Avail. 5/8
18 Regali
Chico Bon Bon: Monkey With a Tool Belt
Dead to Me: Season 2
The Eddy
The Hollow: Season 2
House at the End of the Street
Restaurants on the Edge: Season 2
Rust Valley Restorers: Season 2
Valeria
And here’s what’s leaving next week, so it’s your last chance:
Leaving 5/15
Limitless
The Place Beyond the Pines
Ever since his recent release from prison, Tekashi 69 has been gearing up to make his musical comeback. Now, his return will officially kick off today: Tekashi has announced that a new song, his first one post-prison, will be released today at 3 p.m. ET.
He made the announcement with a billboard in Times Square, which does not reveal the name of the song. DJ Akademiks shared a video of the huge electronic sign and wrote, “6ix9ine just announced he’s dropping a song tomorrow at 3 pm via the biggest billboard in Times Square .. and also claims he’s still the King of New York. He also going live on ig at 3 pm est tomorrow.”
6ix9ine just announced he’s dropping a song tomorrow at 3 pm via the biggest billboard in Times Square .. and also claims he’s still the King of New York
. He also going live on ig at 3 pm est tomorrow pic.twitter.com/bXiebBhkRK
— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) May 7, 2020
This news is far from a surprise, as there have been plenty of indicators that something like this was coming soon. For example, the song is set to arrive at the same time Tekashi will be going live on Instagram today. He also recently sought (and was granted) permission to film music videos in his backyard, so it’s possible the song’s release today could be accompanied by a visual as well (or perhaps a video will come later instead).
Whatever the case, this is a moment fans have been anticipating for months, so tune in later today to see what Tekashi’s been cooking up.
The trailer for The King Of Staten Island, Judd Apatow’s upcoming comedy starring Pete Davidson (in a role that takes inspiration from Pete Davidson’s pre-SNL life), has arrived. The movie is one of the most anticipated titles to adjust to the current situation with Universal announcing a straight to VOD release (the official date is June 12), and this trailer doesn’t hold back on where the semi-autobiographical vibe lands.
Like his character, Scott, Davidson lost his father, a NYC firefighter, in the 9/11 terror attacks. And in this movie, Scott’s been living through a case of arrested development while loosely aspiring to be a tattoo artist and smoking weed, but when his mother (Marisa Tomei) starts dating a FDNY member (Bill Burr), the self-reflection begins. That’s where an Easter egg comes into play: Steve Buscemi, a former firefighter who assisted the FDNY after 9/11, plays a veteran firefighter who encourages Scott to give it a go. And since this is a comedy, Scott gets hazed with a firehose while attempting to sleep.
The film’s synopsis, however, indicates that Scott heads down a different career path, stand-up comedy. The trailer promises a heartfelt-yet-funny treatment of the subject matter, and The Wallflowers “bring home it home” (yes, I said it) at the end of the trailer with “One Headlight.”
The King Of Staten Island arrives on June 12. Here’s a clip of Davidson visiting The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon (where the trailer debuted) and explaining how Bill Hader helped launch his showbiz career.
